Gathering, storing, and retrieving summary electronic healthcare record information from healthcare providers

ABSTRACT

The system and method of the invention describes a unique approach to gathering patient treatment information in summary form from a universe of health care providers, each using any form of patient information management; converting that information to pointers that can be searched by a healthcare provider before or during treatment to determine if further information needs to be acquired from the original provider; and a variety of methods to provide access to detailed healthcare treatment and diagnosis information from the original healthcare provider through an access and display method provided by the healthcare provider housing the records, if available. The system and method envisages one or more providers of repository services, each offering various ways for healthcare providers to update and maintain summary information, and each providing for continual exchange of information among them to ensure complete access to all available information.

CROSS REFERENCE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/837,598 filed Jul. 16, 2010 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/642,907 filed Dec. 21, 2009.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentation or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent & Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to medical record search and retrieval, the management of patient record information, and diagnostic services for healthcare providers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Healthcare providers manage patient treatment information in a variety of forms, ranging from completely automated electronic healthcare record management systems to paper files. Discovery of possibly significant information about a patient is ineffective and likely to be incomplete since most patients utilize a variety of providers which in turn utilize a variety of incompatible record management systems. Searching for medically relevant records for a particular patient is hampered by the number of previous healthcare providers that have treated a patient, and likely to be dangerously incomplete. A recent US government initiative to compel all healthcare providers to implement electronic healthcare record management systems by 2014 does not address and will not solve the problem of identifying all previous treatment and diagnosis information.

There are numerous reasons why a simple search of the web using Google, Bing, Yahoo or any other search engine would not provide equivalent results to the invention. First, search engines focus on public information openly displayed on searchable pages. A search for a patient identifier such as its social security number (“SSN”) might return thousands of records containing that number in completely unrelated web pages, even assuming that the medical record information were exposed and indexed by search engines. But health care records must be protected by adequate security, behind at least password protected barriers. In order to search electronic health care record systems each search engine would have to have gained access to those systems with appropriate security measures. Consequently, simple searchers would have to be particularized to specific web sites corresponding to health care providers, which is a feature of the invention but not available in search engines since they assume they will search all web pages not restricted by the convention “nosearch” on the page URL.

Second, even if search engines had particularized, security controlled access to a defined set of health care provider systems, the patient identifier would not necessarily be the first information in a record, or in a standard location. The search engines would have to do a deep search of every record in every system looking for all occurrences of the patient identifier or SSN. This would depend on patient identifier numbers being readily found and identified, and could also return records for dependents, parents, or other relatives included, meaning that the results of the search could be incomplete or overloaded with possibly extraneous records. Information on date of service and diagnostic code or prescription information would also have to be deduced from the contents of each record.

Third, results returned would be incomplete since the majority of health care providers have not converted to electronic health care record systems, and have no medical record information to offer up to a search engine. A federal requirement is that all health care providers must use such systems by 2014, but there is no requirement far providers to convert all older records. Consequently, even if a particularized search was available, and patient identifiers could identify records of interest, this would not reach all health care providers until 2014 at the earliest, and would not necessarily provide records of previous health care records.

Finally, even if there were a particularized and secure search of health care providers available, and even if the basic information of patient ID, date of service and diagnostic code could be found by searching records, and even if all health care providers had converted to electronic record management systems, and even if those records could be returned in a consistent form, the variety of electronic health care record formats would make the results difficult to scan for particular information, difficult to search in date order, and difficult to easily determine which records may be of interest based on the diagnostic or treatment code, since records and record fields will vary from system to system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system and method of the invention contemplates one or more repositories of medical record information, or Medical Records Registration and Management systems, such as repositories, to compile summary patient treatment and diagnosis information that can serve as pointers or references from any and all Health Care Providers, containing at a minimum unique patient identifiers (Social Security Number or alien identifier), date of service, Health Care Provider identifier, diagnostic code or diagnosis, and optionally billing codes associated with the provision of health services.

In addition, each repository would contain or have access to a database of Health Care Providers, current and past diagnostic codes and billing codes, and information or technical indicators determining whether the Health Care Provider electronic system of Electronic Healthcare Records (if any) could be accessed directly by another Health Care Provider.

The method of the invention would allow for a rapid search of all repositories, including Health Care Providers that act as their own repository of information, to find all Electronic Healthcare Records pointers or references and summaries, arranged by date. A Health Care Provider providing service to a patient could determine which records might be needed to properly treat the patient by date of service and diagnosis, and possibly billing code. If the Health Care Provider with the patient Electronic Healthcare Records has a direct or browser based access to those records, the Health Care Provider could access them directly.

The system and method is completely general in that it allows for a multitude of repositories, does not require a massive and expensive conversion to a common system to improve health care management (reference to failed UK electronic healthcare records system), encourages new and increasing effective ways to store and retrieve electronic healthcare records without reducing the effectiveness of the invention, allows for security and HIPAA compliance processes now in place or that may be defined to be incorporated, and places patient health care uppermost.

The system and method is unique and unprecedented in that it reverses the thinking that all Electronic Healthcare Records would need to be translated into a common standard format, and possibly centralized to achieve uniform and complete access to electronic healthcare records. That approach would require years if not decades to implement in any meaningful way, i.e. comprising more than 80% of electronic healthcare records, and would depend on the time consuming and usually contentious process of setting industry standards for electronic healthcare records.

Instead, the system and method of the invention simply provides a pointer to electronic healthcare records and where the detailed information in the electronic healthcare records are stored, along with basic information to allow healthcare providers to determine whether the electronic healthcare records may be relevant, and whether they may be accessed in some electronic form, or must be accessed through less efficient means such as fax or even phone conversations.

Additional features and characteristics of the invention are that it is: (a) Based on the point of view of the recipient of medical treatment, the patient, and the immediate healthcare provider, to maximize the value of electronic healthcare records in treating the patient; (b) Provides for organization and identification of medical data, records and information (electronic healthcare records) without specific action by the patient; and (c) Allows for registration by Social Security Number or Alien registration number as a universal identifier.

Specific Attributes of the Invention include: (a) pointer records or reference data may be transferred in their entirety by the original healthcare providers to one of many providers of electronic healthcare records based on Social Security Number or unique identifier; (b) healthcare providers may choose to record that patient electronic healthcare records are stored on their system and are available for access, transfer and/or review with proper access rights established; (c) existence of electronic healthcare records can be established at one, some or all of the providers of Medical Records Registration and Management repositories; (d) repository providers can accept records in multiple formats according to their capabilities, or only record the provider identification and the access path for the records; (e) repository providers may allow for PDF documents, scanned images, recordings, faxes, lab results in many electronic forms, and other current or future available formats; (f) does not require a single centralized provider of medical information, and in fact would encourage competition to act as a repository; (g) does not require translation or conversion of electronic healthcare records into some standard format, thus allowing all existing systems to continue in use without expensive upgrades; (h) Allows for redundancy of storage for electronic healthcare records across providers of repositories; and (i) encourages electronic healthcare records providers and software providers for the medical market to establish common access processes or APIs that would allow medical practitioners to access patient information without regard to the system containing the information.

The method of the invention provides a simple and easily implemented way for any and all health care providers to indicate the existence of records for a patient, without necessarily having to convert old records from paper, and without requiring all health care providers to have electronic record keeping systems in order to indicate the availability of patient information. The invention provides a consistent, powerful and complete approach to gathering and presenting summary records, or pointers, to possibly relevant information contained in a multiplicity of forms by all health care providers regardless of which if any electronic record keeping system they have.

Numerous advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general schematic overview of the invention illustrating the connection between repository databases and healthcare providers;

FIG. 2 is a general schematic overview of healthcare providers being capable of updating patient information medical links; and

FIG. 3 is a general schematic overview of an example of a request for patient record information made by an healthcare provider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the claims by the embodiments illustrated.

The following terms are used herein with their accompanying definitions:

Repository (Database)—one or more structured sets of persistent data, usually associated with software to update and query the data. A simple repository might be a single file containing many records, each of which is structured using the same set of fields. A repository can comprise a map wherein various identifiers are organized according to various factors, such as identity, physical location, location on a network, function, etc.

Active Link—a link on a page that allows a user to access a particular function by activating the active link through an action such as a keyboard stroke or mouse click. Activation of an active link can occur through a “single action”, which as used herein refers to any single act that can activate a function, such as a mouse click, a mouseover, a keyboard stroke, a pen stroke, a finger stroke or signal, a voice signal, staring at a predetermined screen location for a predetermined time, and/or any equivalents thereof.

Identifier—a group of symbols that are unique to a particular entity, activity, and/or document. An identifier can be, for example, a medical record number. An identifier can be human and/or machine readable, such as for example, a number, an alphanumeric string, a bar code, an RFID, etc.

Patient or Healthcare Identifier or ID—an identifier for a particular patient or healthcare organization. A patient identifier might be a social security number, taxpayer ID number, national ID number, Medicare number, Medicaid number, medical insurance ID number, medical record number, etc. A Healthcare Provider Identifier or ID might be a tax or FEIN number, etc.

Repository identifier—an identifier for a particular respository to which one or more patient monitoring devices are linked.

Information device—a device capable of processing information, such as any general purpose and/or special purpose computer, such as a personal computer, workstation, server, minicomputer, mainframe, supercomputer, computer terminal, laptop, phone, and/or any equivalents thereof, etc.

Interface—a boundary across which two independent systems meet and act on or communicate with each other. To connect with or interact with by means of an interface.

Machine-readable media—a memory readable by an information device.

Memory—a device capable of storing analog or digital information, for example, a non-volatile memory, volatile memory, Random Access Memory, RAM, Read Only Memory, ROM, flash memory, magnetic media, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical media, an optical disk, a compact disk, a CD, a digital versatile disk, a DVD, and/or a raid array, etc. The memory can be coupled to a processor and can store instructions adapted to be executed by processor according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

Network—a wired and/or wireless communication network.

Network interface—a telephone, a cellular phone, a cellular modem, a telephone data modem, a fax modem, a wireless transceiver, an Ethernet card, a cable modem, a digital subscriber line interface, a bridge, a hub, a router, or other similar device.

Patient—a human or other type of animal under supervision for health care purposes.

Patient or medical information—information relevant to the medical care and/or treatment of a patient, including real-time vital, biological, and/or physiological data, near real-time and/or prior history data relating to vital, biological, and/or physiological data, blood pressure parameters, ventilation parameters, vital sign parameters, blood oxygen concentration representative parameters, infusion pump parameters associated with fluid delivery, drip medication related parameters, blood gas parameters, insurance information, health care personnel information, health care organization information, billing information, family information, financial information, therapy information, drug information, and/or any equivalents thereof, etc.

Processor—a device and/or set of machine-readable instructions for performing a task. A processor comprises any one or combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software. A processor acts upon information by manipulating, analyzing, modifying, converting, transmitting the information for use by an executable procedure and/or an information device, and/or routing the information to an output device. A processor may use the capabilities of a controller.

Server—an information device that provides some service for other information devices connected to it via a network. A common example is a file server, which has a local disk and services requests from remote clients to read and write files on that disk. A server can also provide access to resources, such as programs, shared devices, etc.

Uniform resource locator (URL)—a standard way of specifying the location of an object, such as a web page, on the Internet, a network, and/or a server connected thereto. A URL can comprise a data field that comprises one or more identifiers.

User interface—a device and/or program for rendering information to a user and/or requesting information from the user. A user interface can include textual, graphical, audio, video, animation, and/or haptic elements.

User—an individual capable of utilizing a system for accessing patient information.

This section describes in general form the computer programs needed to implement a comprehensive national data base of health care record information. Any competent practitioner in field of information technology could construct a system using this description.

The principal idea of the system of the invention conceives a multitude of healthcare record repositories that would contain constantly updated pointers or vectors that signify the existence of information on a patient, and sufficient information for a health care professional to access the information online (if the originating healthcare provider offers online access) or to provide standardized request processes for asking for the records.

The descriptions below outline how the necessary computer programs would need to be constructed by a normally competent programmer or systems development company. Access to information within the repositories would be controlled and limited according to accepted computer security methods and consistent with any applicable government regulations and controls. These security controls are assumed to be readily available and are not described.

Basic Information Contained in Repositories

For every patient and every treatment event, diagnostic test or medical procedure, a summary record is created by the original Healthcare Provider (HCP) with the following basic information: (a) Healthcare Provider Identifier, (b) Patient ID, (c) Date of Service, and (d) Diagnosis and/or Billing code. The Healthcare Provider identifier is a unique identification number that helps to identify the Healthcare Provider from each other Healthcare Provider. The Patient ID, may be the patient's SSN or another alien identification number, identifies the patient from other patients, and from related family members. The Diagnosis and/or Billing Code are codes widely used in the medical field help to identify the type of treatment, procedure, or tests, conducted by the Healthcare provider.

These records are referred to as pointers or vectors because they serve to locate more detailed information about the patient, the healthcare provider, and health care information available including test results, recordings, radiology scans, etc. These records are further stored on memory in a Repository or Database.

Every Healthcare Provider (HCP) can select from a multitude of Repository service providers (REP) that maintain one or more Repositories to accept and maintain the HCP record pointers. The selection would be based on any commercial basis including cost and ease of use for the HCP staff. The existence of multiple suppliers acting as Repositories will encourage competition and innovation, as opposed to a single, central repository whether privately operated or governmental such as SSA.

Automated, semi-automated or manual data entry programs gather the data from each HCP and transmit the data to a dedicated REP, which in turn shares that information with all other REPs using a process similar to how search databases operate or using standard information exchanges. REPs maintain a database listing all other REPs along with access information to allow secure exchange of healthcare record pointers among REPs. REPs scan all other REPS on a periodic basis to compile a database of all healthcare record pointers. Each REP has comprehensive, up to date information available to the HCPs to which they provide service. REPs also maintain databases of billing codes (current and previous), and indicators about how records in each HCP can be viewed or accessed by another HCP, i.e. access method to be employed to see detailed information, electronic records, even x-rays and EKGs if available from the original provider. REPs may provide additional services to HCPs including maintaining original healthcare records and test results, providing interface programs to allow for automated collection and transmission of healthcare records, and access programs that allow HCP staff to directly access healthcare records at other HCPs using special purpose programs that do not require detailed information about other HCP systems. These programs may be direct view or direct access or may be browser based.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a general description of the system and method for multiple repositories and health care providers is illustrated. For example, every Healthcare Provider Selects a Repository Provider to act as an Intermediary to any other Healthcare Provider searching for patient records. In this example diagram, Dr. John Patterson (box 100) has selected (line 110) Repository A (box 120) to be its provider of record pointers and its access point to search for and view health care records for its patients. Repository A (box 120) also provides services to Northwestern Hospital (box 130) and Union Memorial Hospital (box 140), among others, as indicated by the ellipsis (dots 135). Repository N (box 150) provides services to Drs. Smith (box 160) and Kastner (box 170) among others (dots 165). Other Respositories (box 180) would be linked to other HCPs (box 190). Each health care provider (100, 130, 135 140, 160, 165, and 170) is typically already assigned or would be assigned an unique HCP identifier (102, 132, 142, 162, 172, respectively) and exchanges information with their selected repository (120, 150) including record pointers and in some cases copies of medical records for storage on the repository.

Major Processes

These are four major processes or computer programs involved in implementing the method of the invention. Each process could have many possible specific implementations, much as there are 10 or more commercially available web browsers, each implemented in a different technical form but each providing the same basic service with similar features and advantages. The four processes are: (a) Update Healthcare Provider Record Pointers in Repository HCP->REP; (b) Exchange Repository records with all other Repositories REP<-->REPS; (c) Search for Patient Records in the Repository HCP<-->REP; and (d) Obtain detailed information about particular records HCP<-->REP<-->HCP.

Update Healthcare Provider Record Pointers in Repository HCP->REP

Four program types would be available depending on the healthcare records management technology employed by a HCP. (1) Direct interface from HCP to REP; (2) Automated extract of HCP record pointers and upload to REP; (3) Manual data entry of HCP record pointers and upload to REP; and/or (4) Online data entry of HCP records into REP database.

In a Direct Interface from HCP to REP, the following steps would be taken: (a) Schedule daily or more frequent review of all of HCP records identifying all records that have been created or changed since the last review; (b) Build upload file with all new or changed records in standard format (Note: upload file could be a complete refresh of information to REP, even if technically inefficient, to ensure complete information exists on REP); (c) Prepare list of records that need diagnostic code or additional information; (d) If any records are incomplete, display list to HCP administrator, schedule additional review of all records; and (e) Send upload file to REP. This can be done over a direct or dedicated network connection between the HCP and REP repository.

In an Automated extract of HCP record pointers and upload to REP, the following steps would be taken: (a) Receive request from REP for update information or complete refresh of all HCP information. (Note: this process could also be scheduled for daily or more frequent review of all of HCP records identifying all records that have been created or changed since the last review); (b) Run export data preparation program, customized for each type of HCP system, to review all record information to ensure it is complete (Note: export file could be complete refresh of all information to REP as noted above); (c) Prepare list of records that need diagnostic code or additional information; (d) If any records are incomplete: (i) Display/print list to administrator; (ii) Wait for signal that records have been updated; (iii) Return to Step b; and Send export file to REP. This can be done over a network connection between the HCP and REP repository. In some instances the HCP would log onto a server and initiate a connection link between the HCP and REP and then initiate data transfer.

In a Manual data entry of HCP record pointers and upload to REP, the following steps are followed: (a) REP schedules daily or more frequent email to HCP; (b) HCP receives email and starts local program to enter information; (c) HCP enters record information for new or changed records; (d) HCP uploads information to REP; (e) REP checks each record for completeness or duplicates; (f) REP returns error listing to HCP; and (g) HCP corrects errors and uploads information to REP.

Lastly, an Online data entry of HCP records into REP database, would include the following steps: (a) REP schedules daily or more frequent email to HCP; (b) HCP receives email and clicks on link to enter data directly in REP system; (c) HCP enters record information; (d) REP checks each record for completeness or duplicates; (e) If incomplete or duplicate, REP shows error message to HCP, HCP corrects record; and (f) REP stores information.

Exchange Repository Records with all Other Repositories REP<-->REPS

Every Repository maintains a database of all healthcare records by regularly exchanging information with all other repositories, using a data base of repositories to scan for information. This process is similar to how search engines use bots to scan all websites for new web pages or information. The principal difference is that the information to be searched is behind a security screen and not available for general search or access without the appropriate security controls. The information is also in standard form, making the search and assembly of information and information exchange straightforward.

Employing a typical search process against all HCPs would only gather information from those with automated systems. This process provides a means to gather information from all HCPs regardless of how or whether they employ automated records management systems.

Nevertheless, search bots are one of many possible methods to gather and exchange healthcare records with other repositories. Rather than describe the process used by search bots, it suffices to say that each repository would employ search bots to scan every repository listed in the data base of repositories and retrieve all new or changed records. Each repository would need to maintain data base pointers that identify records by date and time entered or changed so that other search repositories only need to retrieve that information and not all records. Again, similar methods are used by search bots to avoid retrieving unnecessary data.

Search for Patient Records in the Repository HCP<-->REP

Each repository could have a different interface or browser based method of allowing a HCP to query the data base of records in the repository. The basic process would be: (a) Obtain patient ID—Social security number or Alien ID; (b) Scan database for records for that patient ID; (c) Return list in date order; and (d) For each record, indicate whether HCP can provide online access to further information.

Obtain Detailed Information about Particular Records HCP<-->REP<-->HCP

Medical records management systems have a local display method, often highly customized to the system itself and requiring extensive training to use effectively to obtain and display patient information. Vendors of these systems would be encouraged to provide a standard means of displaying information to other HCPs using browser based tools and readily available display methods. New and improved records management systems will include as a standard process external access that does not require specialized training or skills in each system, to make information available to other HCPs.

The method of accessing and displaying information would be contained in the repository database of HCPs. If a requesting HCP wants to see details from a treatment record, the repository would act as a translator to make the information available in readable and accessible form. The exact format of record display and the methods available and employed by HCP record systems are expected to change and improve continually, but those changes would not affect the method employed herein because the method contemplates many different systems, having many different display methods.

Once a search has been performed by the requesting HCP and a list of available records displayed (steps 1-4 in the process above), a further process would be employed, as follows:

For each record, allow HCP to access or request information: (a) Directly into medical records system, if available, from the previous HCP; (b) Browser based display of information in standard format from previous HCP; (c) Request form to be forwarded to HCP requesting Fax or printed copies of medical records; and (d) Telephone and fax numbers of previous HCP if no other means of record retrieval available.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated the various ways in which HCP update patient information to the Repositories for the creation of record pointers by the Repositories. Each of the Healthcare Providers (HCPs) from FIG. 1, is a subscriber or customer of Repositories A (120), N (150) or V (180), of many possible Repository Services Providers. Each HCP in the examples of this embodiment of the invention uses a different method to inform the Repository of patient records available in some form from the HCP. Northwestern Hospital (130) links (136) their recent electronic records management system directly to the repository, and allows for direct access to record information or images through the repository by other HCPs that may be treating a patient. The record pointers for every patient record can be updated hourly, and direct access to their computerized record system can be gained through repository A. Northwestern (130) also has in this example stored older records with the repository using a service provided by the repository. Dr. Smith (160) has a directly accessible system and updates the repository with patient record pointers daily (168). Dr. Smith can provide a browser based display of all patient records. Patient record pointers can be sent daily to the Repository N and his HCP information includes an indicator showing that other HCPs can view patient records via a browser. Dr. Kastner's (170) office uses an offline process to manually record information to upload to the repository (175). A spreadsheet may be used to record patient record pointers, which can be uploaded daily to the repository. His HCP information indicates that patient information can be faxed or mailed. Dr. Vaughn (192) indicates (195) the availability of records that could be mailed or faxed. Dr. Vaughn has indicated to Repository V that he has a number of patient records but does not provide detailed pointer information, only the latest date of record information by patient. As one possible convention, an HCP can indicate that many patient records are available by indicating a patient ID and the last service date, leaving the diagnostic or billing code blank.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an example of a request for patient record information by a Healthcare Provider 200 to a repository 210, and an example response. Upon receiving a request, the Repository conducts a search query 220 through its own records and through other repositories, if necessary. A response 230 to the search query is generated by the Repository and is either sent to the HCP or accessible/viewable by the HCP through a dedicated network. The response would include pointer records 232, 234, 236, 238. Each pointer record represents a medical record stored either on a repository 210 or at a HCP. Furthermore, each pointer record would typically include an HCP identification number 242, date of service 244, diagnostic or billing code 246, and the availability status 248. The availability status provides the searcher with information on how to retrieve the medical record. The response 230 may also provide for the ability for expanded information 250, based on the data base of HCP diagnostic or billing codes and indicators for record availability.

Based on the above disclosure and drawings, there is provided herein one or more embodiments for creating and accessing patient medical information in a network. In one embodiment there is provided a repository database storing medical records of a plurality of patients. Each medical record would be associated with a healthcare provider and further includes a healthcare provider identification code, a date of service, a diagnostic or billing code, and an availability code listing the access of the medical record with the respect to the healthcare provider. A search processor is included for initiating, in response to a first command, a search of the repository database to locate at least one medical record associated with a particular patient. In addition, an interface processor is included for generating in response to a second command, a request to access the stored medical record of the particular patient. The response to the second command would include at least one of the following: a link to the actual medical record being stored on the repository database, or direct contact information associated with the healthcare provider. To separate the medical records efficiently, each patient, of the plurality of patients, is associated with a patient identifier. In this embodiment the direct contact information associated with the healthcare provider would either be a telephone number, email, or facsimile number.

In other embodiments, there would be provided a plurality of repository databases, each storing medical records of a plurality of patients, and wherein the search processor for initiating, in response to the first command, searches the plurality of repository databases, to locate all medical records associated with the particular patient.

In another embodiment there would be provided a system for accessing patient medical information in a network that included a plurality of repository databases storing medical links. Each medical link would be associated to a medical record. The medical link includes a healthcare provider identification code, a date of service, a diagnostic or billing code, and an availability code listing the access of the medical record with the respect to the healthcare provider. An interface processor would be provided for generating a medical link in response to a generation command initiated by a healthcare provider having access to one or more of the repository databases, and wherein the generation of the medical link creates an availability code for the medical record, from one of the following: (a) a hyper-link to the medical record being stored on one of the repository databases, (b) a hyper-link to the medical record being stored on a healthcare provider database, or (c) non-networked direct contact information to the healthcare provider. In addition thereto, when the availability code indicating the medical record is non-networked direct contact information to the healthcare provider, the availability code further includes information associated with the healthcare provider such as but not limited to a telephone number, email, or facsimile number.

In view of the above, it will be seen that several advantages of the present invention have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained. From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. 

1. A computer-based system for accessing patient medical information in a network comprising: a plurality of repository databases residing on repository computing devices, each of said plurality of repository databases storing medical links, each medical link being associated to a medical record that is associated to a patient by a unique patent identifier, the medical link including a healthcare provider identification code, a date of service, a diagnostic or billing code, and an availability code, said availability code includes a listing of an ability to access the medical record with the respect to the healthcare provider; and an interface processor, including at least one computer hardware component, for generating a medical link in response to a generation command initiated by a healthcare provider having access to one of the repository databases, wherein generation of medical links creates availability codes for medical records depending on the manner in which the medical records are capable of being accessed, and wherein the creation of availability codes includes creating each of the following: (a) a hyper-link to a first medical record being stored on one of the repository databases, (b) a hyper-link to a second medical record being stored on a healthcare provider database, and (c) direct contact information for a healthcare provider having a third medical record that is not directly accessible by electronic means.
 2. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein the availability code indicating the medical record is direct contact information to the healthcare provider further includes information associated with the healthcare provider, including one or more of the following: (i) a telephone number, (ii) email, or (iii) facsimile number.
 3. The computer-based system of claim 2 further comprising: a search processor for initiating, in response to a first command, a search of one of said plurality of repository databases to locate at least one medical record associated with a particular patient; and wherein said interface processor further generates in response to a second command, a request to access said stored medical record of the particular patient, which said response to said second command includes at least one of the following: a link to the actual medical record being stored on said repository database or stored on said healthcare provider database, or direct contact information associated with the healthcare provider.
 4. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein each of the repository computing devices includes an updating processor for communicating and updating with other repository computing devices medical links generated thereon.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein a healthcare provider is capable of updating healthcare records in one of said plurality of repository databases.
 6. A computer-based system for accessing patient medical information in a network comprising: a healthcare provider computing device storing detailed medical records about a plurality of patients, said healthcare provider computing device configured and arranged to generate and upload a set of medical record pointers to a repository computing device, said medical record pointers including summary information sufficient to locate detailed medical records about one or more patients, without including the entire substantive content of said detailed medical records themselves; a repository database residing on said repository computing device, said repository database storing medical records of a plurality of patients generated at least in part from said set of medical record pointers, each of said plurality of stored medical records being associated with a healthcare provider and including an availability code listing an ability to access the medical record with the respect to the healthcare provider; and an interface processor, including at least one computer hardware component, for generating a medical link in response to a generation command initiated by a healthcare provider having access to said repository database, wherein generation of medical links creates availability codes for medical records depending on the manner in which the medical records are capable of being accessed, and wherein the generation of medical links includes generating at least two of the following: (a) a first availability code indicating that at least one of said medical records is available in direct form online, (b) a second availability code indicating that a browser-based display of at least another of said medical records is available in a standard format, and (c) a third availability code indicating that, in order to access at least still another of said medical records, a request form must be submitted to the associated healthcare provider so as to request that a faxed or printed copy of the medical record be sent.
 7. The computer-based system of claim 6, wherein the third availability code further includes information associated with the healthcare provider comprising at least one of the following: (i) a telephone number, (ii) email, or (iii) facsimile number.
 8. The computer-based system of claim 7, wherein said interface processor further generates in response to an additional command, a request to access at least one medical record associated with a particular patient, which said response to said additional command includes at least one of the following: a link to the actual medical record being stored on said repository database, or direct contact information associated with the healthcare provider.
 9. The computer-based system of claim 7 further comprising: a search processor for initiating, in response to a first command, a search of said repository database to locate at least one medical record associated with a particular patient; and wherein said interface processor further generates in response to a second command, a request to access said at least one medical record of the particular patient, which said response to said second command includes at least one of the following: a link to the actual medical record being stored on said repository database or stored on a healthcare provider database, or direct contact information associated with the healthcare provider.
 10. A computer-based system for accessing patient medical information in a network comprising: a plurality of healthcare provider computing devices storing detailed medical records about a plurality of patients, a first of said plurality of healthcare provider computing devices configured and arranged to generate and upload a first set of medical record pointers to a repository computing device, a second of said plurality of healthcare provider computing devices configured and arranged to generate and upload a second set of medical record pointers to said repository computing device, said medical record pointers including summary information sufficient to locate detailed medical records about one or more patients, without including the entire substantive content of said detailed medical records themselves; a repository database residing on said repository computing device, said repository database storing medical records of a plurality of patients generated at least in part from said first and second set of medical record pointers, each of said plurality of stored medical records being associated with a healthcare provider; and an updating processor, including at least one computer hardware component, for compiling and uploading said medical record pointers to said repository database, wherein said medical record pointers are compiled and uploaded to said repository database by utilizing at least two of the following types of data exchange routines: (a) automated extracting and uploading of said medical record pointers from one of said plurality of healthcare provider computing devices to said repository computing device, wherein new or changed medical record pointers are uploaded to said repository computing device on a scheduled basis, (b) manual data entry and uploading of said medical record pointers from another one of said plurality of healthcare provider computing devices to said repository computing device, wherein said repository computing device is configured to send a scheduled e-mail to said another one of said plurality of healthcare provider computing devices in order to prompt the healthcare provider to initiate a local program for entering information regarding new or changed medical record pointers; (c) online data entry and uploading of said medical record pointers from yet another one of said plurality of healthcare provider computing devices to said repository computing device, wherein said repository computing device is configured to send a scheduled e-mail to said yet another one of said plurality of healthcare provider computing devices, said scheduled e-mail containing a link for entering data directly into said repository database residing on said repository computing device; and an interface processor, including at least one computer hardware component, for generating a medical link in response to a generation command initiated by a healthcare provider having access to said repository database, wherein generation of medical links creates availability codes for medical records depending on the manner in which the medical records are capable of being accessed, and wherein the generation of medical links includes generating at least two of the following: (a) a first availability code indicating that at least one of said medical records is available in direct form online, (b) a second availability code indicating that a browser-based display of at least another of said medical records is available in a standard format, and (c) a third availability code indicating that, in order to access at least still another of said medical records, a request form must be submitted to the associated healthcare provider so as to request that a faxed or printed copy of the medical record be sent.
 11. The computer-based system of claim 10, wherein the third availability code further includes information associated with the healthcare provider comprising at least one of the following: (i) a telephone number, (ii) email, or (iii) facsimile number.
 12. The computer-based system of claim 10, wherein said interface processor further generates in response to an additional command, a request to access at least one medical record associated with a particular patient, which said response to said additional command includes at least one of the following: a link to the actual medical record being stored on said repository database, or direct contact information associated with the healthcare provider.
 13. The computer-based system of claim 10, further comprising: a search processor for initiating, in response to a first command, a search of said repository database to locate at least one medical record associated with a particular patient; and wherein said interface processor further generates in response to a second command, a request to access said at least one medical record of the particular patient, which said response to said second command includes at least one of the following: a link to the actual medical record being stored on said repository database or stored on a healthcare provider database, or direct contact information associated with the healthcare provider.
 14. The computer-based system of claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of repository databases, each storing and exchanging medical records of a plurality of patients with each other repository database, and wherein the search processor for initiating, in response to the first command, searches a repository database, of the plurality of repository databases, to locate all medical records associated with the particular patient. 